Govt pledges hitch-free 2005 census
From Onyedika Nkechi, Abuja
COGNISANT of the role of human resources in national development, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring an accurate and successful 2005 population census.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chukwuemeka Chikelu, disclosed this while briefing reporters on his ministry's plan for the head count.
Chikelu noted that government would work as a facilitator and provide fund as well as equipment required for the conduct of the exercise.
He, however, warned that the 2005 census should not be seen as a government affair.
According to him, it is the duty of Nigerians to ensure the success of the exercise through a change of attitude and ideas on what census is all about.
His words: "Nigerians have all kinds of views on what census is meant for. While some think that the figures gathered from the conduct of the exercise would be used for taxation, others opine that the figures would be used for political purposes and these were mistakes that marred previous exercises in the country.
"Nigeria, this time around, have to get it right and all hands must be on deck," he added.
Chikelu explained that information gathered from census is critical to national planning and development.
"It helps to ensure even distribution of national resources. It reduces waste and is also useful to donor agencies and businessmen. Without accurate census figures, there will be no accurate provision for development," he added.
On the ministry's plan of activities for the exercise, he said that a study would be commissioned in the six-geo-political zones of the country to gauge the feelings of Nigerians about previous census exercises, the extent of their success and issues that must be addressed.
This, he said, would help the ministry know and package the campaign strategy that would be more effective for the exercise.
The information ministry, he added, plans to build capacity and skills to equip information officers with all they need to make the campaign a success.
He stressed that it would start its campaign and advocacy visits to religious and opinion leaders and other stakeholders in the six geo-political zones by January 2005 to promote the exercise.
His words: "The target audience has to be identified with clear message suitable for the audience. We have to select the appropriate medium through which we can communicate with the audience and arrangements have been concluded to reach the rural areas through nine local languages."
Chikelu disclosed that the National Assembly has released about N100 million as logistics support to the ministry for its sensitisation campaign.
He added that the ministry would work very closely with the National Population Commission (NPC) and harmonise their activities.
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